Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-08-03
M1istellaaeuns &eadiug.
II CONSTITUTION.

THE CONSTITUTION.
Arrangements for the celebration of the
centennial of the Constitution Ofthe United
States, at philadelphia in September next,
are progressing favorably. The commit.
tee having the matter in charge are hard
at work, and the prospect is that it will
be one of the grandest celebrations ever
held in the United States. 1t will last
three days, the 18th, 10Th and 18th. The
Philadelphia Times has the following out
line of the plans for the celebration:
1.-THE most wonderful work ever struck
off at a given time by the brain and pur-
pose of man,"
Such is the opinion of Mr.. Gladstone on
the Federal Constitution of America, and
in order to provide a proper national cele,
bration of the centennial anniversary. OF
the framing and PRONUNCIATION of this
wonderful document, the committee ct
citizens appointed are working diligently
and earnestly to render the occasion not
only worthy of the nation, but an event
of historical importance to the people OF
Philadelphia. The executive committee,
which is composed of Amos R. Little,
chairman; Clinton P. Paine, vice-chair-
man n. G. Ordway, of Dakota, and Hamp-
ton L. Carson, of Philadelphia, secretaries,
with Thomas Cochran, chairman of the
citizens committee, cooperating, have up
to the present time made the following
arrangements: President and Mrs. Cleve-
land will be the guests of Mr.. George w.
Childs and will arrive in the city Septem-
Der IA. They will be rendered a grand
reception on the evening of the 18th.
On September Is q great industrial and
civic display will be paraded through the
streets and Colonel A. Loudon SnoWden
| is making hurculean efforts to make it un-
| equaled in the annals of great professions:
September 16, the military parade will
include the regular forces of the United
States, commanded by General Sheridan,
and 5000 of the State National Guard.
New Jersey will send 1900 troops; Mary
land, 1000; Rhode Island, 1000; Della
ware, $50; Virginia, 300; North Carolina,
$50, and it is expected that there will be
1000 soldiers and sailors in line. ,
September II, which is the Centennial
Day, services will be held in 1%ndepend,
ence Square, at which the President will
preside. Justice Miller Of the Supreme
Court, will deliver the Grafton. :,
The committee announces that accept
ances have been received from the Cover
nors of Virginia, Georgia, Delaware, Ma
ryland, New Jersey, Kansas, Mississippi,
Massachusetts and Vermont, the principal
members of the Diplomatic Corps, the
Judges, Senators, members of Congress,
divines, literary and art celebrities-in
fact, everybody connected with the pro:
gress of the country. Many distinguished
foreign guests will also be present.
So far the following appropriations nay
been made: By the Pennsylvania Legls'
lature, S75,O 900; Massachusetts, $4,000;
Connecticut, SIS, 900; Rhode Island, 81
500, and Delaware. The Pennsylvania
Legislature appropriated 100000, but one
item of $4,000 for entertainment was
vetoed by the Governor, leaving the ap.
preparation $4,000. The governments OF
Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio
and South Carolina have each authorized
the Adjutant General to provide a proper
military representative and to draw the
expenses for the same from the State eX.
chequer. Everything possible has beer
done to render the occasion a great and
memorable one and Philadelphia viii
soon begin preparations to put on her gala
attire for the reception of her distinguish
ed guests.
THE HISTORY OF THE CONSTITUTION.
On May IA, 1887, the Federal Conven:
ton met in Independence chamber, ano
George Washington, the delegate from
Virginia, was called upon to preside. Al
ter several stormy sessions, running over
four months, the Constitution of the
United States was agreed upon on Sep,
TENDER II, 1887, and it was duly ratified
and accepted by the thirteen States.
The Carpenters Hall Association claim
that the meetings were held in their hall
While the minutes show that the build
ing was rendered, but not accepted, the
evidence of the journal of the convention
proves that it was held in independence
Hall, as also does a letter written by Ben
iamin Franklin to his sister, who said tina,
the daily walks to and from the State
House did him a great deal of good. The
ceremonies attending the ratification o.
the Federal Constitution December IL,
1887, were curious and are detailed al
length in the records. The procession tc
the court house took place at high moor
and among those who walked in line were
the Judges of the Supreme Court, the
Marshal of the Admiralty, the Nava
Officer, the Collector Of Customs and the
provost and faculty ofthe University. The
exercises were held in independence
Square, the same as they will be on the
Centennial Anniversary.
The next celebration of the adoption o
the Constitution was on July 4, 1888, wher
the greatest industrial and trades display
ever held in Philadelphia was organized
On September II, 1861, the seventy
fourth anniversary was celebrated by
military parade and service in Independ
ence SQUARE. General Pleasanton com
manded the troops, Mayor Alexander
Henry presided and the Grafton was de-
livered by Hon. George M. Dallas.
This was the last and greatest celebra
ton, but the coming festivities are expect
ed to cast all others in the shade by theil
magnitude and splendor and the enthusi
asm of thousands from all parts of the
world.
MIN IDnnIN NINIIrS